VERSES: Luke 15:3-7
MEMORY VERSE: Luke 15:6 "...Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost."
BOOK TO REMEMBER: 2 Samuel. Write "2 Samuel" on small slips of paper and hand out to the students at the end of class, so that they can memorize the book at home.
PRAYER: Pray that we all stay close to God, always striving to do those things that God wants us to do and showing that we love Him by doing His commands.
SPECIAL SONG: No, Not One (See June - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #6 on this blog. Click on orange circle to hear tune.)
VISUALS AID: Large Activity (see below)
LESSON POINTS:
- Jesus spoke another parable to the people. He asked the men who were listening to Him questions.
- If a man had 100 sheep and lost one sheep, would he leave the 99 other sheep in the wilderness and go and search for the one that was lost until it was found?
- Then, when the sheep was found, wouldn't he joyfully lay it upon his shoulders?
- When the man came home, wouldn't he call his friends and neighbors together and say to them, "Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost!"
- Jesus knew that every man there would do what He suggested and would search for that one lost sheep, leaving all of the others behind in order to find the lost one. Every sheep was valuable. Just like that example, Jesus said that there would be joy in heaven when one sinner would repent over the 99 just people who did not need repentance.
- What this parable means: All people sin (Romans 3:23). Moms and dads, teachers, presidents, our neighbors, our family, everyone! Everyone but one person...Jesus! Jesus was saying that when one person sins or does what God says not to do, and then has godly sorrow enough to repent of that sin and not do it anymore (2 Corinthians 7:10), then there is great joy in heaven over that one person coming back to God.
"Older Student" Tips:
- What if someone says they have never sinned? Do all people really sin? Read 1 John 1:7-10. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us, and if we say that we have not sinned, we make God a liar and his word is not in us. It is very serious business if we say we have never sinned.
- The reason that Jesus went to the cross and died for us is because we sinned. The only way to get rid of that sin is to wash it away through baptism (Acts 22:16)
- What is sin?
- Whatever is not of faith-Romans 4:23.
- Knowing to do good, yet not doing it-James 4:17.
- A transgression of God's law-1 John 3:4.
- All unrighteousness or not going right-1 John 5:17.
- Rejoice means happy.
ACTIVITY: The Lost Sheep
Materials needed: Three feet of white butcher paper, old newspapers, stapler and staples, markers, scissors. (If the teacher believes this might be too expensive or too large of an activity, this project can always be scaled down to a 12" x 18" piece of white construction paper or I used a 24" x 36" piece of thin white paper.
- Hand out paper. It might be helpful if the students were spread out around the classroom, so there would be room to draw and cut out a sheep.
- Fold the paper in half, width-wise.
- Using as much paper as possible, draw a large sheep. Simple is best. Small legs and short necks are great!
- Carefully cut out both thicknesses of folded paper at the same time, holding paper together with other hand, so the paper won't slip.
- On one side, write "Parable Of The Lost Sheep" and "Luke 15:3-7."
- Draw one eye, one ear, one nose, and a sideways mouth on each side of the sheep.
- Staple both pieces of paper, so that there are staples all around the sheep, except for the head. Leave the head unstapled, so that there is an opening for crumpled paper.
- Hand out old newspaper. (Two large pieces is more than enough.)
- Tear and crumple newspaper gently.
- Stuff the newspaper inside the sheep with the hand--gently; otherwise, the sheep will tear on the edges that are staples. Stuff enough, but not too much, newspaper inside the sheep until the sheep is no longer flat.
- Staple the remainder of the sheep.
- Place sheep over the student's shoulders.
- Smile! The shepherd was rejoicing!
